Chico City Council to consider law that cracks down on underage drinking

CHICO >> The Chico City Council will consider an ordinance Tuesday intended to crack down on underage drinking by imposing liability on people hosting or responsible for events on private property where alcohol is possessed and consumed by people under the age of 21.

After several prior council discussions and sending the matter to committee to address finer details, staff is recommending the council introduce the social hosting ordinance by reading of the title only. Unlike the law that went before them Jan. 7, recent changes eliminated direct landlord accountability but continue defining "responsible persons" as anybody who has a role with the property.

Other changes include increasing the fine in hopes of serving as a stronger deterrent. Under the new proposal the fine would be $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for any subsequent violation in a 12-month period.

"On the cost recovery piece I expect some level of pushback," said Mayor Scott Gruendl. "On one hand I agree the higher fine is a deterrent but the reality is a $1,000 fine is most likely going to be partnered up with some other fine related to the noise ordinance and disorderly events ordinance. I think that is going to be pretty heavy handed but it's also all preventable."

While the ordinance could be perceived as targeting the college crowd, Gruendl said he also sees it as a broad enough law that it could also address high school drinking.

"What I thought we set out to do is to hold individuals responsible who choose to allow minors to drink," he said.

If the council proceeds with the introductory reading, the proposal will return for a second reading and adoption of the ordinance at a future meeting.

Also Tuesday, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the Draft Housing Element Update and consider authorization to submit it to the state for review and comment. The housing element is one of seven required elements in a general plan, and must be updated every five to eight years.

The element has six basic components: a housing needs assessment, a site inventory, a constraints analysis, housing programs, quantified objectives and public participation. The proposed actions are designed to meet various housing needs, including affordability for low-income residents, production of affordable housing for all income groups, and improvement and investment in existing residential neighborhoods.

The council will also consider introduction of a user fee study that establishes the actual cost of providing services for various development-related applications and permits, and compares the cost to revenue under the current fee structure.

The council may consider future action to change fees to ensure better cost recovery. An update to the city's user fees has not been done since 2005, and in many cases, current fees for the planning, engineering and building divisions are significantly below full cost recovery levels, resulting in an annual $1.1 million deficit.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider a resolution approving a one-year license to the Butte Environmental Council to operate a temporary community garden at West Eighth Avenue and Highway 32. The vacant, one-acre city-owned site is eventually planned for development as a fire station, but an interim use of a garden with no permanent structures would not interfere with that plan, according to city staff.

All costs associated with the garden will be sustained by the Butte Environmental Council. The lease would be eligible for renewal.

At the meeting's start, the council will present retiring Chico police Lt. George Laver with the Mayor's Achievement Award.